Habitat For Humanity Breaks Ground On New Affordable Housing Neighborhood
DENVER (CBS4) - What currently looks like just a mound of dirt is in fact very significant for many families in the Denver metro area.
Habitat for Humanity is celebrating their groundbreaking on a new affordable housing development in the city of Sheridan. Located on a 4.35-acre former elementary school site, the neighborhood will consist of 63 energy-efficient homes built over the next four years.
It's an opportunity for low-income families to own their own home in a booming real estate market that has often squeezed people out.
Heather Lafferty, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver, said the pace of the housing market is unprecedented.
"Tens of thousands of families are unable to afford their rent or being forced out of their home. We believe that being able to build 63 homes in the city of Sheridan, we are providing opportunity for families not only to have a good home but to be able to purchase an affordable home," she said.
The Sheridan Square community will require the work of over 40,000 volunteers and will provide stable, affordable and permanent housing to approximately 130 adults and 225 children.
"In the end this is going to be a beautiful community, really adding to the city of Sheridan by adding to the property taxes that they're receiving, as well as having great students, great families in their schools and in the community," Lafferty said.
One of the homes will be owned by Fadia Nassar and her husband, who emigrated here from Jordan.
"That's our dream, we like to be owning a home in America," she told CBS4.
It is sentiments like that that motivate volunteers to build these homes. A total of 40,000 volunteers are needed to construct this community in Sheridan. Rob Ayers, one of those who has worked on Habitat projects in the past, says the time spent is incredibly rewarding.
"It really opens your eyes to see what we've done for people and how hard they work to get affordable housing," Ayers said.
This is the dream of 130 adults and 225 children who will move into this neighborhood over the next four years. The Nassars will move in early 2017.
"Our life starts in America," said Nassar.